WEC 49's Josh Grispi anxious to shake off ring rust, climb to top of division

Rarely in the sport of mixed martial arts is a fighter completely healthy. Nagging injuries often keep fighters from being 100 percent. Very often, fighters are forced to fight while injured.

In WEC featherweight Josh Grispi’s most recent fight, not only did he have to battle an ankle injury that made walking difficult, “The Fluke” also had to stand in front of former UFC lightweight champion and mixed martial arts legend Jens Pulver.

“By the time I fought Jens, my ankle was completely destroyed.” Grispi (13-1 MMA, 3-0 WEC) recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I had torn ligaments, and I could barely walk when I fought Jens.”

Although injured, that fight ended as most of Grispi’s fights do when he choked out Pulver in the first round. After the fight, Grispi’s ankle needed major surgery.

Now, following a year of rehabilitation, the 21-year-old looks to come back strong at Sunday’s “WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus” event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he is scheduled to fight an always-tough L.C. Davis (16-2 MMA, 3-0 WEC).

Of course, the year-long hiatus brings the question of “ring rust” into the mix. The past has shown that too much time off can often prove detrimental to a fighter’s performance.

“I was definitely a little rusty starting off training,” Grispi said. “Definitely get a little nervous, but you fall back in love with it quick.”

Before the injury, Grispi was in the middle of a nine-fight win streak that thrust him into the contender mix of a very deep featherweight division – a place that the budding prospect seems very comfortable.

“I’m definitely up there with the top guys”, Grispi said.

With his current run of of seven-straight stoppages in the first round, it would be hard to disagree with him.

“I like to end fights quick”, Grispi said.

Since joining the WEC, Grispi has won all three of his fights in the first round. He finished Micah Miller by TKO while submitting Pulver and Mark Hominick.

His opponent at WEC 49, Davis, is in the middle of his own three-fight win streak and will surely look to capitalize on Grispi’s layoff.

“He’s a good wrestler, a lefty, and he is quick” Grispi said of his opponent. “He usually goes the distance, and I like to end fights quick, so it should be a good clash of styles.”

A win over Davis would put the young Grispi on a very short list of potential contenders for current champion Jose Aldo’s belt. There are know freebies in the WEC, and Grispi knows his work is ahead of him.

“I’m always expecting tough fights in the WEC,” Grispi said. “(But) a win would get me right back to the top of the list.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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